Basis of Presentation (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Aug. 04, 2012
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Consolidation, Policy	The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Spartech Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries (“Spartech” or the “Company”). These financial statements have been prepared on a condensed basis, and accordingly, certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. In the opinion of management, these consolidated condensed financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) and disclosures necessary to make the information presented herein not misleading. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying footnotes thereto included in the Company's October 29, 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Discontinued Operations, Policy	In 2009, the Company sold its wheels and profiles businesses and closed and liquidated three businesses, including a manufacturer of boat components sold to the marine market and one compounding and one sheet business that previously serviced single customers. These businesses are classified as discontinued operations based on the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) topic, Discontinued Operations. Accordingly, for all periods presented herein, the consolidated statements of operations conform to this presentation. See Notes 3 and 11 for further discussion of the Company's discontinued operations and segments, respectively.
Basis of Accounting	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and related disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Operating results for any quarter are historically seasonal in nature and are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year. Dollars presented are in thousands except per share data, unless otherwise indicated.
Fiscal Period, Policy	The Company's fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to October 31st and fiscal years generally contain 52 weeks. However, because of this accounting convention, every fifth or sixth fiscal year has an additional week, and 2012 will be reported as a 53 week fiscal year. The Company's first quarter ended February 4, 2012 and nine months ended August 4, 2012 included 14 weeks and 40 weeks respectively, compared to 13 weeks and 39 weeks in the first quarter and nine months of the prior year. Years presented are fiscal unless noted otherwise.

Basis of Presentation (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Aug. 04, 2012

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Spartech Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries (“Spartech” or the “Company”). These financial statements have been prepared on a condensed basis, and accordingly, certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. In the opinion of management, these consolidated condensed financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) and disclosures necessary to make the information presented herein not misleading. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying footnotes thereto included in the Company's October 29, 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Discontinued Operations, Policy

In 2009, the Company sold its wheels and profiles businesses and closed and liquidated three businesses, including a manufacturer of boat components sold to the marine market and one compounding and one sheet business that previously serviced single customers. These businesses are classified as discontinued operations based on the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) topic, Discontinued Operations. Accordingly, for all periods presented herein, the consolidated statements of operations conform to this presentation. See Notes 3 and 11 for further discussion of the Company's discontinued operations and segments, respectively.

Basis of Accounting

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and related disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Operating results for any quarter are historically seasonal in nature and are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year. Dollars presented are in thousands except per share data, unless otherwise indicated.

Fiscal Period, Policy

The Company's fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to October 31st and fiscal years generally contain 52 weeks. However, because of this accounting convention, every fifth or sixth fiscal year has an additional week, and 2012 will be reported as a 53 week fiscal year. The Company's first quarter ended February 4, 2012 and nine months ended August 4, 2012 included 14 weeks and 40 weeks respectively, compared to 13 weeks and 39 weeks in the first quarter and nine months of the prior year. Years presented are fiscal unless noted otherwise.

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy regarding (1) the principles it follows in consolidating or combining the separate financial statements, including the principles followed in determining the inclusion or exclusion of subsidiaries or other entities in the consolidated or combined financial statements and (2) its treatment of interests (for example, common stock, a partnership interest or other means of exerting influence) in other entities, for example consolidation or use of the equity or cost methods of accounting. The accounting policy may also address the accounting treatment for intercompany accounts and transactions, noncontrolling interest, and the income statement treatment in consolidation for issuances of stock by a subsidiary.

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+ Details

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for any discontinued operations. The results of operations of a component of an entity that either has been disposed of or is classified as held for sale is reported in discontinued operations if both: (a) the operations and cash flows of the component have been (or will be) eliminated from the ongoing operations of the entity as a result of the disposal transaction and (b) the entity will not have any significant continuing involvement in the operations of the component after the disposal transaction. If the entity elects to allocate interest expense to a discontinued operation, it may disclose its accounting policy for this election and describe its method of allocation.

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+ Details

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for determining an entity's fiscal year or other fiscal period. This disclosure may include identification of the fiscal period end-date, the length of the fiscal period, any reporting period lag between the entity and its subsidiaries, or equity investees. If a reporting lag exists, the closing date of the entity having a different period end is generally noted, along with an explanation of the necessity for using different closing dates. Any intervening events that materially affect the entity's financial position or results of operations are generally also disclosed.

+ References+ Details